Tuition & Fees

Tuition and fees are established by the Board of Trustees. Tuition and fees listed are subject to change without notice.

Tuition and certain fees are based on school district and Pennsylvania residency. The college is sponsored by the nine school districts in Lehigh County and four of the five school districts in Carbon County: Allentown, Catasauqua, East Penn, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern Lehigh, Parkland, Salisbury, Southern Lehigh, Whitehall-Coplay, Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Palmerton, and Panther Valley.

As part of the enrollment process, students provide the college with residency information. Each school district is responsible for determining whether students are residents of the district and whether to sponsor their resident tuition. Residency requirements vary among the sponsoring school districts. Students should be familiar with the residency requirements of their school district. If the residency is denied by the school district, then the student will need to contact the school district to clear up the residency issue. Tuition adjustments will not be made after the semester has ended.

For information concerning residency requirements, contact the Business Office at 610-799-1592 or email at bursar1@mymail.jlspfcw.com. School district contacts will be provided for residency sponsorship.

Pre-sponsorship: Students who have established Commonwealth residency and reside in one of the sponsoring districts ninety days prior to the start of the semester, but do not meet all the other residency requirements of the district, shall be granted sponsoring rates upon providing documentation to LCCC Business Office.

Tuition and Basic Fees – 2024-2025 Academic Year

Tuition and fees are charged as follows: Students who register for 12 to 18 credits will be charged a block rate for tuition and fees. Registration of less than twelve credits and above eighteen credits will be charged on a per credit basis.

LCCC Textbooks+ is a program through the LCCC bookstore that packages your textbooks, electronic textbooks and required course materials.

All students are automatically included in LCCC Textbooks+. Students will have the option to opt out of LCCC Textbooks+ only during specified opt-out periods as noted at http://4gpe.jlspfcw.com/current-students/registration-student-records/student-record-policies/withdrawal-policy-procedures-refunds/.

Students will opt-out of all the course materials and supplies for every course in the semester. Students will be responsible to purchase all the books and supplies for their classes.

To opt out, action must be taken:

• Login to the Opt-Out Portal and review the process and specific deadlines.

Contact the campus store at bookstore@jlspfcw.com for information on how to opt-out, or whether opting out may be financially beneficial to you.

Please note, additional course fees in varying amounts may apply to Art, Aviation, Nursing, and other courses.

Please refer to the Credit Catalog for a full list of additional course fees. Course fees are established to recover the costs directly associated with a particular course such as supplies, software, art materials, and testing materials.

The Comprehensive Fee is charged to defray the costs of tutoring, counseling, career counseling, food pantry, clubs and organizations, library resources, student safety and the fitness center.

The Technology Fee supports the learning management system, licenses, help desk, IT support and the infrastructure, and the technology in the library.

The Capital Outlay Fee is assessed to students that are not residents of Lehigh or Carbon Counties to support the cost of facilities and deferred maintenance.

Veterans/Military

• Veterans/Military will only be charged sponsored rates.
• Lehigh Carbon Community College, will return any unearned DOD tuition assistance funds received on a prorated basis through at least the 60% portion of the period for which the funds were received. Funds are earned proportionally during an enrollment period, with unearned funds returned based upon when a student stops attending.
• As required by PA Act 11 of 2015, Veterans and Military Personnel, their spouses, and/or dependent children, may be eligible for reduced tuition rates as outlined below:
  • Veterans, their spouses, and/or dependent children, who reside in the Commonwealth of PA will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsoring rate. For purposes of this policy, a veteran student is defined as an individual who: (a) Served in the United States Armed Forces, including a reserve component and National Guard, and was discharged/released from service under conditions other than dishonorable;  or one who is an active-duty service member; and (b) Resides in Pennsylvania while enrolled at Lehigh Carbon Community College.
  • Active military personnel, their spouses, and/or dependent children, who are enrolled online (distance) and who reside outside of the Commonwealth, will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsorship rate.
  • Any individual who receives VA education benefits under chapters 1606, 1607, 30, 31, and 33, and who resides outside of the Commonwealth, will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsorship rate.
  • Civilian personnel who work at a Department of Defense facility in the Commonwealth of PA, their spouses, and/or dependent children, will be granted a tuition rate equivalent to the local sponsorship rate.
• As outlined above, those who qualify must provide proof of service, which may include one of the following: DD214, current military ID, and/or VA Certificate of Eligibility, Documentation must be submitted here.

Dual Enrollment/Early College Tuition

Dual Enrollment (sponsored school districts)

• Courses taught by sponsor instructor – $30 per credit
• Courses taught by college instructor – $70 per credit

Dual Enrollment (non-sponsored school districts)

• Courses taught by non-sponsor instructor – $96 per credit
• Courses taught by college instructor – $111 per credit

Early College (sponsored school districts)

• Courses taught by college instructor – $70 per credit

Senior Citizen Tuition Policy

Students over the age of sixty years residing in the college-sponsor school districts are eligible for free tuition in credit and noncredit courses on a space available basis as of the day the course begins. Senior citizen students will pay all course fees or costs such as laboratory fees and out-of-pocket course costs incurred and paid for by the college such as for third party services provided, including, but not limited to, truck driving certifications shall be paid for by the senior citizen student. Senior Citizens who are eligible for Veterans education benefits may choose to use their preferential course scheduling privileges to register prior to the day the course begins to guarantee their seat at the sponsor rate. If they choose to do so, the student is responsible for all tuition and fees associated with the course.

College Tuition Refund Policy

Students who withdraw from their classes will have their tuition recalculated based upon liable credit hours, which are calculated according to when in the semester the withdrawal request process is completed. No refunds are made after 20% of the course has been completed. The date of official withdrawal is when the Office of Registration/Student Records has all the properly completed forms.

An official withdrawal must be done in writing through the Office of Registration and Student Records before or during the first week of the semester.

Tuition Financial Obligation

Tuition is based upon liable credit hours. The refund period is equal to 1/15 of a scheduled class. The information below details the financial obligation of the student based on what refund period the class withdrawal occurs. For the actual refund period date ranges, please click on the link below:

Before and during the first refund period of classes – 0% credit hour liability (no tuition is owed)

• ​Within the second refund period of classes – 50% credit hours liability (must pay 50% of tuition charges)
• Within the third refund period of classes – 75% credit hour liability (must pay 75% of tuition charges)
• After third week of regularly scheduled classes – 100% credit hour liability (must pay all tuition charges)
• Tuition liability amount and dates after the semester has begun (Winter 2024 semester)
  • [0% 12/16-12-17]  [50% 12/18-12/20]  [75% 12/21-12/22]
• Tuition liability amount and dates after the semester has begun (Spring 2025 semester)
  •  [0%  1/24-1/30]  [50%  1/31-2/6]  [75%  2/7-2/13]
• Tuition liability amount and dates after the semester has begun (Summer 2025 semester)
  •  [0%  5/19-5/23]  [50%  5/24-5/28]  [75%  5/29-6/2]

Please note: There are different parts of each term with different refund and withdrawal dates.

Fee Refunds (Basic Fees, Upon Formal Withdrawal)

• Before and during the first week of semester – fees are 100% refundable.
• Students who submit a total withdrawal during the first week of classes will be assessed a $100 service fee.
• ​During the second week of classes, students are liable for 50% of charged fees.
• During the third week of classes, students are liable for 75% of charged fees.
• There will be no fee refunds for students who withdraw after the third week of classes.

Tuition will not be refunded to students who drop and still remain in the 12-18 credit block.

Tuition will be refunded to students who are taking less than 12 or more than 18 credits, based on the college’s refund policies.

In the event the college must cancel a class for lack of sufficient enrollment, all tuition and fees are refunded.

Collection Process

Lehigh Carbon Community College utilizes a standard collection process. Delinquent accounts will be sent to a third party in which the third party will impose collection fees. Collection fees are calculated at the maximum amount permitted by applicable law, not to exceed 33.3% of the amount outstanding. Delinquent accounts may be reported to one or more of the national credit bureaus.

In addition, a Business Office hold will be placed on the account which will prevent registration.

Financial Responsibility Agreement

Agreement acknowledges the student financial responsibility and understanding of the financial policies of the college. Students are responsible to make sure payment is submitted to their account either directly, by financial aid, or by a third party.

Tuition Due Dates

• Winter 2024 semester tuition payment is due on November 19, 2024
• Spring 2025 semester tuition payment is due on December 4, 2024
• Summer 2025 semester tuition payment is due on April 23, 2025
• Dual Enrollment tuition payment is due at the time of registration unless a special arrangement has been made with the school district

For specific refund periods for classes that start other than the first week of the semester, or classes that are not the full semester in duration, contact the Office of Registration/Student Records at 610‑799-1171. Refunds for dropped courses are issued after the refund period has ended.